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Pens could have Crosby back against Islanders

Posted: Mon Mar 24 11:02 AM

(Sports Network) - Already coming off a big win last time out the Pittsburgh Penguins might get another boost tonight, as Sidney Crosby could return to action to help his club clinch a playoff spot in a test against the New York Islanders at Nassau Coliseum.

Crosby originally suffered a high ankle sprain in January and missed 21 games. He returned for three contests -- scoring two goals and posting a pair of assists -- but has missed the Penguins last five games due to soreness in the ankle.

However, Pittsburgh's captain might play tonight or, if not, return for tomorrow night's test against New Jersey. In 49 games this year, Crosby has 22 goals and 45 assists for 67 points.

The Penguins' offense didn't miss a beat last time out minus Crosby, as Evgeni Malkin netted a pair of goals and added an assist in Pittsburgh's 7-1 victory over the New Jersey Devils.

The win allowed the Pens to leap over the Devils for first place in the Atlantic Division. Pittsburgh and its 93 points lead New Jersey by two with seven games to play. The Penguins also trail Montreal by a point for the best mark in the East, and the Canadiens host Ottawa tonight.

A win tonight would give the Penguins 44 victories on the season, three shy of last year's total, and would secure Pittsburgh a spot in this season's playoffs.

Malkin (44 goals, 58 assists) went over the 100-point mark for the first time in just his second NHL season, and his 102 points are second in the league behind Washington's Alex Ovechkin (106 points).

Ryan Malone scored a pair of goals while Petr Sykora added a goal and two assists for the Penguins, who won for the fifth time in their last six games. Pascal Dupuis added a goal and an assist to give him a five-game point streak (1g, 8a).

Marc-Andre Fleury made 24 saves in the win for Pittsburgh.

The Penguins have lost four of their last six on the road and are 20-15-2 as the road team this season.

The Islanders find themselves with 73 points and 13th in the Eastern Conference with six games left to play. They trail eighth-seeded Boston by 11 points, meaning New York is all but out of the playoff picture.

The club was in action last night, falling to Philadelphia, 4-1. Miroslav Satan scored for the Islanders, who have dropped seven of their last eight games. Joey MacDonald allowed four goals on 26 shots in defeat.

MacDonald and Wade Dubielewicz will man the pipes for the rest of the season, as starting goaltender Rick DiPietro is out for the rest of the season after hip surgery.

New York, which will play in Pittsburgh on Thursday, has lost five straight at home and is 17-17-3 as the host this year.

Pittsburgh is 4-2-0 against the Islanders this year and has won six of 10 and seven of its last 12 versus New York. The Penguins have lost five of their last eight at Nassau Coliseum.